After the first few weeks told contrasting stories about the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, those narratives have flip-flopped headed into their Week 6 matchup. Eli Manning and his West Coast offense under Ben McAdoo have started to get things right after starting 0-2. Meanwhile, Nick Foles and Chip Kelly’s running game have shown their weaknesses after opening the season 3-0.
It’s on in New York. After dropping their first two games of the season while averaging 14 points a game in losses to the Lions and Cardinals, the Giants have scored 82 points in wins over Houston, Washington, and Atlanta as their newfangled offense finds its footing. The Giants are now 3-2 and one game back of the Eagles for top spot in the division.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Manning threw 200 yards and two scores on 19 of 30 passing against the Falcons in Week 5, and has thrown just one interception in his last three outings. Pretty good for a man who was throwing picks like they were going out of style last season. Since Week 3, Manning has eight touchdowns against one interception.
Part of the boost in the Giants’ offensive stats in their three wins could be explained as much as anything by an easier schedule after their rough start. After being shut down against the Lions and Cardinals–two of the top five teams in the league in terms of yards allowed per game–New York then played two of the bottom defenses in the league in the Texans (12th-worst in yards allowed per game) and Falcons (2nd-worst).
The exception to the above pattern is the game against one of the stouter defenses in the league, Washington. The Giants played well against the Redskins, but the difference was largely turnovers, as Kirk Cousins and the ‘Skins turned the ball over three times compared to just once (a Manning pick) by the Giants. New York will want to continue to win that turnover battle against a Philadelphia team that–depending on the day–has proven able to score quickly.
One concern on offense for the Giants will be the health of Rashad Jennings, who left the game against the Falcons with a sprained knee and did not return. Rookie Andre Williams, who was already seeing significant playing time before the injury, took over as the primary back for New York and finished with 65 yards on 20 carries. Williams has averaged just 3.1 yards per carry this season, and represents a significant downgrade in the rushing game for the Giants if Jennings is unable to play in Week 6.
Speaking of rookies, the Giants had their first-round pick, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. make his professional debut last Sunday after being out to this point with an injury. Beckham Jr. made an immediate impact, catching four balls for 44 yards and a highlight reel score. The young pass catcher enters the lineup at the right time for the Giants, as Victor Cruz has been hot and cold this season, mixing two 100 yard+ performances with three games where he averaged 35 yards per game. Rough.
Against the Eagles, the Giants’ pass defense will need be at its best. After allowing an average of 265 yards per game through five weeks, the Giants are now facing one of the more dangerous aerial attacks in the game.
The Giants and Eagles have split their home-and-home series in each of the last three seasons.
Betting on the Philadelphia Eagles
The 2014 Eagles have done enough to win four of their first five games this season–not an easy feat, period–but have looked shaky in a variety of circumstances this year. Whether it was going down 17-0 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 or their more recent scare against the St. Louis Rams, who they very nearly allowed to come back from a 27-point deficit in Week 5 (before winning 34-28).
Indeed, this team has been dramatically inconsistent to this point this season, starting with the play of their quarterback Nick Foles. Foles has put up passer ratings of 114.4, 42.3, and 86.2 in his last three weeks, and continues to do just enough to win his teams games. Still his 57.8% completion rating and almost a one-to-one touchdown to turnover ratio (eight touchdowns, four interceptions, three fumbles) are going to continue to put the Eagles in high-variance games that they could just as easily lose as win going forward.
And yet, the main issue isn’t Foles. After leading the league in rushing last season, with over 160.4 yards per game, LeSean McCoy and the Eagles have gone ice cold on the ground this year, running for just 98.6 yards per game, good for 23rd. Philadelphia has had just three run plays go for over 20 yards after turning out 19 such plays last season.
Things won’t get much easier against a surprising Giants rush defense which has allowed a solid 99 yards per game running, good for tenth in the league.
The Eagles are 4-1 against the spread this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Both teams abandon their run games as the quarterbacks combine to throw 800 yards while the game cruises over the total. Cruise to a nice total of your own when you create a betting account now and get set to bet on this big Sunday Night Football game.
